Open AccessA Dynamically Focusing Cochlear Implant Strategy Can Improve Vowel Identification in Noise
Author(s) -
Julie G. Arenberg,
Wendy Parkinson,
Leonid M. Litvak,
Chen Chen,
Heather A. Kreft,
Andrew J. Oxenham
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ear and hearing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.577
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1538-4667
pISSN - 0196-0202
DOI - 10.1097/aud.0000000000000566
Subject(s) - quiet , loudness , speech perception , cochlear implant , noise (video) , audiology , active listening , computer science , hearing aid , acoustics , channel (broadcasting) , background noise , speech recognition , perception , medicine , psychology , telecommunications , physics , artificial intelligence , communication , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , image (mathematics)
The standard, monopolar (MP) electrode configuration used in commercially available cochlear implants (CI) creates a broad electrical field, which can lead to unwanted channel interactions. Use of more focused configurations, such as tripolar and phased array, has led to mixed results for improving speech understanding. The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a physiologically inspired configuration called dynamic focusing, using focused tripolar stimulation at low levels and less focused stimulation at high levels. Dynamic focusing may better mimic cochlear excitation patterns in normal acoustic hearing, while reducing the current levels necessary to achieve sufficient loudness at high levels.